Depar tment of Heal th and Human Ser vices

Proposed Aged Care Facility at Wirksworth in Bellerive

UPDATEHOUSING TASMANIA – 25 AUGUST 2017

Update following close of initial public consultation phase

Dear resident

As you may be aware it is proposed that an aged care facility be built in Bellerive on part of the Wirksworth site.

The facility would take up approximately 30 per cent of the site with the rest of the site remaining as public open space. See the concept drawing below.

At the residents meeting on 27 June to discuss the proposal there were a number of questions asked and these have been answered in the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

Also included in the FAQ document are questions, queries and concerns that have come to us via email during the initial consultation process that ended on July 28 and there are answers provided for those too.

There were also many comments that were supportive of the development and some of these have been summarised at the end of the document.

There will be an information booth on the project at the Bellerive Yacht Club on 12 September from 2pm-7pm for people to come along and find out more about the development and to answer any questions you may have.

Also please feel free to contact us on email hiu@dhhs.tas.gov.au and phone 1800 995 653 if you have any questions or comments.

Concept Site Drawing

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Question Answer

Who are Wintringham? The organisation that will run the aged care facility, Wintringham, is a Victorian-based not-for-profit organisation with an outstanding reputation, specialising in the housing and care of frail, vulnerable, older people. In 2011, it was awarded the United National human settlements program Habitat Scroll of Honour, the first time it was awarded to an Australian entity. This award also acknowledged the difference Wintringham has made to the lives of thousands of older people as well as to the experience of urban life in Melbourne.

Will it result in reduced property prices?

No these developments have taken place in Victoria and there have been no drop in property prices. In fact the developments have been very well received by local residents elsewhere and have won awards for enhancing urban life in Melbourne. Property prices in Tasmania at present are stable and this development, which involves developing beautiful homes designed to fit in with the surrounds, will not lower property values.

Why were people only consulted about this in late June?

Consultation could not begin on this project until the State Government and the Wintringham organisation had received notification from the Australian Government in June 2017 that Wintringham’s submission for funding for the project had been successful. Until then there was no Australian Government funding for the project so there was no project at that point.

Who funds the facility and who will build it?

The Australian Government provides the funding of the annual running of the facility and the State Government will build the facility at an estimated cost of $12 million as part of its Affordable Housing Strategy. The State Government will own the facility and lease it to Wintringham.

What will it mean for the public open space on the Wirksworth site?

As you can see from the concept drawing, the proposed aged care facility will only take up a portion of the current site. It will not take up the whole site. The proposed facility will take up approximately 30 percent of the whole Wirksworth site. The whole area adjoining Wentworth Street and in front of Wirksworth House will remain as open space as it currently is.

What will the economic benefits of the facility be for the local economy?

This project will create approximately 31.5 full time jobs over the long term for aged care staff with annual operating revenue expected to inject $4.2 million into the local economy.The construction of this facility will create 90 jobs in the construction industry and provide total economic activity of $30 million.

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Question Answer

What impact will the development have on the school across the road?

It won’t have any negative impact at all. The facility will enable frail, elderly people who cannot afford mainstream aged care to live in safe, supported accommodation close to essential services. Like many aged care facilities in Australia, Wintringham has relationships with a number of schools and there may be opportunities for children to visit and interact with residents by assisting with computer skills and reading.

What about the heritage values of the site, will they be retained?

Yes they will. We will continue to work very closely with Heritage Tasmania to ensure the Heritage values of the site are maintained. A detailed Historic Heritage Assessment Report will be undertaken which will address the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 and the Historic Code of the Clarence Planning Scheme.

There has been a lot of talk that people aged just 50 will live in this development is that the case?

People that live in aged care facilities in Australia have to be approved as being eligible for aged care. There may be a very small number of frail, vulnerable people of that age however the vast majority will be over 65. The average age of people in Wintringham developments is 70.

Is this site a done deal? No, this is the preferred site. It is, however, the site that the Australian Government has provided funding for running the facility each year under the Aged Care funding program. That funding is worth many millions of dollars each year. Previously two other sites in Southern Tasmania were put forward for this funding from the Australian Government but were unsuccessful. They were at Rokeby and at Huntingfield. The Wirksworth site is an ideal site as it is flat and close to essential services, shops and transport. While Wirksworth is the preferred site, no decisions have yet been made and people can be assured that a planning application will not proceed to the Clarence Council until full consultation is held.

What are the backgrounds of the people that will live in the facility?

They are the same as any other people that live in aged care accommodation. They are people’s mums, dads and grandparents from all walks of life except they are not as wealthy as those that can afford mainstream aged care. This facility will provide a home for frail, vulnerable, elderly people that cannot afford the more expensive mainstream type of aged care.

Will the pine trees on the site be retained?

Yes most of the pine trees will be retained.

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Question Answer

We are concerned about the cultural heritage and history being destroyed.

Understanding the heritage values of the site and ensuring that these values are protected in any new development are key priorities for the design of the facility. These values will be identified at an early stage in planning, so that these can be appropriately managed and all statutory approvals and other requirements can be confirmed and met in a timely manner.A Heritage Survey identifies, in the study area, historic cultural heritage including historic, scientific, (for example archaeological) aesthetic or social heritage values; cultural landscapes and shared heritage places, such as places with Aboriginal and historic heritage values.

Are ill people or people with worsening illnesses moved on?

No. Wintringham’s philosophy is that they provide a home for people to live out the rest of their lives.

Will you consider another site for the development that would be more suited with less community impact?

At this point we are exploring the options on this site. The Wirksworth site is linked to the Australian Government decision to provide funding for running the facility each year under the Aged Care funding program.

Is the facility wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all accommodation will be wheelchair accessible.

The facility will house people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, what are the criteria for this client group?

Wintringham consider that all older people who are on pensions and/or living alone are vulnerable to homelessness depending upon their circumstances and the Wintringham model provides residential aged care irrespective of income. While this means that they have more vulnerable clients, all residents must be assessed as being suitable to live in aged care.

The facility is for 50 beds, you secured 40 Residential Aged Care Places. Is there any intention to sell the balance 10 for affordable accommodation?

No. All of the units will be retained and owned by the State Government with Wintringham managing the facility.There is scope for Wintringham to apply for residential aged care place funding for the balance 10 beds in future Australian Government Aged Care Approval Rounds.

How will the facility be staffed?

As with any other aged care facility the majority of the 35 staff who will work at the facility will be nurses and personal care attendants.

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Question Answer

I am concerned that Government funding can cease, I fear that with loss of funding, the site would be available for developers in the future.

Aged care funding is a responsibility of the Australian Government under the Aged Care Act 1997. The Australian Government pays subsidies and supplements to approved providers for each resident receiving care. The facility will be owned by the Tasmanian Government and operated by Wintringham who will receive the aged care funding. While aged care providers can be defunded if they fail to meet the quality standards under the Act, Wintringham is a high quality aged care provider has received a number of accolades for their model of care.

We are concerned about the breeding and feeding habitat of the resident birdlife and wildlife, that the removal of many of the existing trees severely impacts the flora and fauna?

The development application will need to consider any natural values that may be rare or threatened on the site. This will include native vegetation or habitat for vulnerable species.

In-fill housing – more high density infill development will negatively impact the heritage values of the site and the local residential area.

Housing Tasmania has constructed a number of developments in recent years. Examples include: Hopkins Street, Moonah; Trinity Hill, North Hobart, Brisbane Street, Hobart and Thyne House, Launceston.All of the above examples property valuations in that immediate neighbourhood continued to grow following the completion of the unit development. Two developments, Trinity Hill and Thyne House, are also heritage listed properties.

What about my privacy? There are several residents with adjoining properties who have privacy issues for many of the surrounding residential properties.

Under the State planning system, designing any development needs to appropriately consider the privacy of neighbouring residents. A clever design and layout of the site is of high importance as we too want existing residents and the Wintringham residents to enjoy their privacy. We believe the design would resolve this issue and are also open to working with individual property owners on design solutions for specific issues and concerns.

Bellerive already has public housing facilities, why has this area been selected?

This is not a public housing project. This is an aged care facility.

I am concerned that the increase in Traffic and parking along Alexandra Esplanade will be chaotic. There looks like no staff parking available. Does this mean 30-40 more cars parked along the street?

A traffic impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the planning process. Onsite parking will be catered for in the design of the site. There will be no street parking.

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Proposed Wirksworth Development in Bellerive

Key Themes of Comments in Support• Resident urged the “Minister to stick to her guns and go for it”.

• Alleviate homelessness and poverty; help those people who fall through the cracks.

• Location chosen is ideal. Ideal site for elderly persons’ accommodation as it is central, flat and close to both the shops and the beach (considering lot of pressure on current aged care facilities).

• Support for the initiative for the aged care / low income support proposal in Bellerive; “live here or on the street”.

• The elderly community, where death of either themselves or their partner would leave them without sufficient funds to maintain their rental accommodation.

• Everyone deserves to have a roof over their heads.

• Good for growth (for Hobart).

• An ideal location and together with the information regarding the Provider this is an opportunity too good to miss.

• The proportion of the area proposed for development is appropriate. It is important to have plenty of accommodation for aged people, as this is an increasing proportion of the population.

• The site has lain idle for long enough and should be put to a good use such as this accommodation proposal.

• Excellent location for the proposed use.

• Go for it! Ideal use for it to be used for the housing and care of frail, elderly people and still leave plenty of public open space.

Community Comments

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